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Ukalaliens

ukalalien: n. a newly converted ukulele player prone to singing and strumming on the ukulele, spurred to spontaneous acts of music and song singing, both alone and with others, regardless of setting or circumstances, thereby creating a euphoric sense of wellbeing.

KATE POWER & STEVE EINHORN owned Portland's historic music hub, Artichoke Music (1981-2006) until they passed it on to become a non-profit community center and ventured fulltime into the arts. Kate & Steve are lifelong musicians, songwriters, artists and publishers. Creators of the Ukalaliens® Songbook & Companion CD, Homespun DVDs "You Can Play the Uke!" 1&2, Kate & Steve tour to share the joys of making music with the uninitiated and uke-curious and teach them to play music and sing with ukes-to-lend and a liftime of know-how. Many thanks to Kala Brand Ukulele for providing ukes that allow us to teach "ukes without borders" with ukes-to-share. Kate & Steve also perform as multi-instrumentalists in concert with awardwinning original and traditional songs, stories and anecdotes.

WHOLESALE: Exclusive Distribution by Hal Leonard

"The Ukalaliens® Songbook (A Beginner's Guide To Ukulele Fun) by Kate Power and Steve Einhorn is a charmer. Handcrafted by the authors, the book/CD boasts delightful illustrations by Steve and performances by both Steve and Kate. The songs are a blend of well-known traditional tunes and the author's originals all taught via the text and patient encouragements on the CD. A small and happy book for a small and happy instrument." - Jumpin' Jim Beloff, Flea Market Music

"Sometimes we don't know what we have until we've lost it; other times we don't know what we've been missing until it enters our lives. Such was the case when Kate Power and Steve Einhorn introduced me to my first ukulele. My son (a guitarist) and I have become addicted to this little musical powerhouse. Thank you, Ukalaliens!" - Carter Brey, Principal Cellist, New York Philharmonic

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Recommended by Teachers for Teachers and for Students from 10 to 100 years old.

"We had such a good time with you and your ukuleles. I noticed a big leap
forward in the students' ability to navigate the strings after their session
with the Ukalaliens method. We are playing every day in 6th grade!" - Susan Lundquist, Music Teacher - Montesano School, WA

"I learned more in one Ukalaliens Workshop than I learned in three years of music lessons!"
- Fred Thurman, Aberdeen, WA

folks(_AT_)qualityfolk.com?subject=Ukalaliens%20Workshop%20Inquiry

call us at 503-331-1994

It all started with the book...

"The Ukalaliens Songbook (A Beginner's Guide To Ukulele Fun) by Kate Power and Steve Einhorn is a charmer. Handcrafted by the authors, the book/CD boasts delightful illustrations by Steve and performances by both Steve and Kate. The songs are a blend of well-known traditional tunes and the author's originals all taught via the text and patient encouragements on the CD. A small and happy book for a small and happy instrument." - Jumpin' Jim Beloff, Flea Market Music

Twenty-five years at Artichoke Music in Portland, Oregon showed artist-musicians, Steve Einhorn and Kate Power how to teach people to make music. Together they created a fun, stress-free method using colorful illustrations and a simple number system and dubbed it the Ukalaliens® method. Imbued with Einhorn's whimsical illustrations and a playalong CD to follow, the Ukalaliens Songbook gives the absolute beginner a hands-on start using familiar songs and easy-to-follow instruction. The Ukalaliens® have traveled with dozens of ukes-to-lend from Kala Brand Ukulele and converted thousands of people into new musicians on ukulele.

The Ukalaliens® Songbook (featuring folding FLIP-FLAP chord charts) will teach you how to play, sing and make music on songs you love to sing using the ukulele. Using a fun, stress-free method and simple number system, you will learn how to play the ukulele and change keys to fit your voice with ease. Become a new musician with the Ukalaliens® Songbook!

Happy & Jane Traum of Homespun in Woodstock, New York invited Steve & Kate to create two instructional DVDs for a visual guide to accompany the Ukalaliens Songbook & CD. The two-DVD set of "You Can Play the Uke!" brought Steve and Kate's Ukalaliens® method to the screen and includes downloadable transcriptions and tablature for every song and technique. By itself of with the book, the Ukalaliens® method is fun and easy to follow.

Media & Quotes...

"Sometimes we don't know what we have until we've lost it; other times we don't know what we've been missing until it enters our lives. Such was the case when Kate Power and Steve Einhorn introduced me to my first ukulele. My son (a guitarist) and I have become addicted to this little musical powerhouse. Thank you, Quality Folk!" - Carter Brey, Principal Cellist, New York Philharmonic

The Ukalaliens Songbook (A Beginner's Guide To Ukulele Fun) by Kate Power and Steve Einhorn is a charmer. Handcrafted by the authors, the book/CD boasts delightful illustrations by Steve and performances by both Steve and Kate. The songs are a blend of well-known traditional tunes and the author's originals all taught via the text and patient encouragements on the CD. A small and happy book for a small and happy instrument. - Jumpin' Jim Beloff

THE UKALALIENS ARE COMING!

Music Trades Magazine - January 2010

THE UKALALIENS® is brought to you by folk duo Kate Power and Steve Einhorn from the Pacific Northwest. They have been conducting retail clinics coast-to-coast sponsored by Kala brand ukuleles. Authors of the book "The Ukalaliens Songbook, A Beginner's Guide to Ukulele Fun" and companion CD, Kate and Steve have shared the stage with folk luminaries such as Pete Seeger and have performed on Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion.

In their clinics, the Ukalaliens® effectively demonstrate how easy it is to turn non-players into ukulele strumming enthusiasts within a few minutes. After sitting through the hour-long session, many attendees have gone on to create their own ukulele communities or clubs that frequently get together to jam and play songs. Dan Ross of Columbia River Music, The Dalles, Oregon, stated, “the Ukalaliens helped to build the ukulele community here and to sell instruments. We have a uke group that now meets to jam at a winery two or three times a months. They usually come back to buy more than one ukulele. They buy them for their friends, grandkids.”

According to Jimmy Dougherty, manager of George's Music in Jacksonville, Florida, “The Ukalaliens are a fun and interactive duo who provided some unique entertainment to our customers. We would love to have them back in the future!” The workshops provide excellent opportunities for stores to reach new customers and non-musicians. Attendees often invite their friends and family to join in the fun, creating a community atmosphere.” The book & CD is the next best thing to being there. - January 2010

Kate & Steve "bring us to that place that can only be reached at the hands of journeyman artists. The power and precision of their performance gives me the complete trust to lean into the music, to get lost in it." - NW Examiner, 2009

"Ukalaliens®" book review

by Jim D'Ville, musician, author & music teacher

Folk troubadours, Kate Power and Steve Einhorn, have created a magical introduction to the wonderful world of ukulele playing with their book and CD project Ukalaiens Songbook: A Beginner’s Guide to Ukulele Fun. And that’s just what this delightful little book and CD are, fun! From the whimsical original illustrations by Steve to the diverse collection of simple folk tunes the book will immediately have the aspiring ukuleleist strumming and singing right from the get-go.

For the more adventurous players the book also includes a number of beginning finger-picking patterns and left hand techniques. Another feature unique to the book is handy “flip-flap chord charts" that pop up from the book to demonstrate how to play the tunes in a variety of keys. Steve’s pleasant voice guides you patiently through uke basics and the 19 tunes contained on the CD, which include folk classics Careless Love, Crawdad Hole and Shady Grove, in addition to, the lovely original tunes Annebelle, Under The Moon and Pretty Little Girl.

As an added bonus, the CD contains the glorious harmony singing of Kate and Steve which have made them Northwest folk icons. Kate and Steve project a nurturing spirit that warmly welcomes all to the experience of playing and singing with others. Their relaxed, no hurry, presentation is the perfect welcome to beginning musicians of all ages.

I would recommend the Ukalaliens Songbook to anyone wishing a throughly enjoyable musical introduction to playing the sweetest of stringed instruments, the ukulele. - Jim D'Ville, Author of The Natural Way to Music

Ukalaliens® FAQ...

Can I host a Ukalaliens Songbook Workshop?

Yes! Ukalaliens Workshops have been hosted by all kinds of people; Kala Ukulele dealers, music stores, libraries, senior centers, schools and private parties.

The Ukalaliens Workshop is a perfect way to bring people together & introduce them to making music with ukuleles in a fun and accessible way.

We provide two dozen Kala tenor ukes to lend to participants and a free handout based on the Ukalaliens Songbook method and songs.

What's the age group?

Ukalaliens are from 10 to 100 years old.The Ukalaliens Workshop is an entry level method for absolute beginners. It is designed to work for anybody who wants to learn the ukulele and is old enough to try.

What does it cost to host a workshop and how many students do we need?

Our fees are reasonable, affordable and vary based on the setting and location. If you are within 100 miles of the 98502 zip code the price gets even better! Contact us for fees and availability.

Contact Kala Ukulele for more information about, support and marketing options for your uke workshop. If you are a Kala dealer, contact your Kala rep for more information or Rick Carlson at the Kala headquarters by email to rick@kalaukulele.com or 877-853-3853.

How do we get the "Ukalaliens Songbook"?

The "Ukalaliens Songbook" & CD is available online through www.qualityfolk.com and in select music stores.

Kala uke dealers may order the Ukalaliens Songbook wholesale from Kala or on our website at www.qualityfolk.com.

How long does the workshop last? 90 minutes (or as short as one hour for classroom settings!)

We can teach anything from a one-hour workshop to an extended retreat. Custom workshops are available that may include other features and time-lengths. Quality Folk workshops are excellent team builders to develop personal confidence by learning to make music. Inquiries for all occasions are welcome.

What kind of space do I need to host a Workshop with Steve & Kate?

Just enough room for people to sit in chairs with their ukulele on their lap. We teach standing up and use a flip chart. Kate & Steve alternate teaching and helping individual students in the room throughout the class. (If PA is available, we use 1 vox mic and 1 instrument mic each or 2 vox mics & 2 DI's).

What does the Host need to do to have a good turnout?

Download "Ukalalien Songbook Workshop" poster and fill in the details (on your computer or handwrite with a marker). Put the poster where people will see it. Strike up a conversation about the uke class with everybody you talk to about taking the class for the pure fun of it. Make sure your contact info is on the poster for people to get more information and sign up.

You can sell tickets in advance or take reservations. If they pay in advance, they are likely show up. If they don't they might forget so try to get the ticket paid for when they register.

Send out an invitation, flyer or email newsletter to your mailing list. Email is wonderful for networking for a turnout. Send an "Evite" to your email list. You can use the Ukalaliens Poster download in your Evite for your image. Ask the people in your network to send it to their email lists. Twitter & Facebook. Treat it like a "happening" and that's what it'll turn into!

Some folks like to have a potluck or a little party to spice it up. Some host the workshop in the afternoon, have a potluck and then a house concert with us (with ALL of our instruments in the menagerie) in the evening. It can be set up like a class or a salon, the flavor is up to you. The Ukalalien Songbook Workshop is a good time for your friends & customers to enjoy.

What materials are needed for the Ukalaliens Songbook Workshop?

Nothing but a ukulele and a chair to sit in! Bring your own or borrow one from us to try. We have thirty Kala ukuleles to lend to participants in our workshops.

Hear what Ukalalien workshop participants are saying ...

- I'm classically trained on violin but never played a folk instrument. My friend has never touched an instrument of any kind. We went through the Ukalaliens Songbook & CD one page at a time together and have learned from the absolute beginning. It has been SO MUCH FUN and now we are playing together all the time! She's playing beautifully and we love the fun nature of the Ukalaliens method. It's been a great experience. Thank you!